Inter director Marco Branca reveals “Tottenham want more than £40m for Gareth Bale. We like him, but the price is not compatible.”

This week The Guardian splashed the headline that the Nerazzurri had offered £40m to take Welsh wizard Bale in the summer.

“The day before that story came out, I received a text message from the President of Tottenham telling me the figures were lower than his real price-tag,” explained Branca during today's Press conference.

“Tottenham want more than £40m for Bale so he is certainly a player that we like and are monitoring, but the price is not compatible with our club policy.”

Inter have signed Andrea Ranocchia, Giampaolo Pazzini and Houssine Kharja during the January transfer window, but there are more irons in the fire.

“We are working to bring Feyenoord striker Luc Castaignos to San Siro straight away; otherwise he will arrive in June, which I think is more likely.

“Kharja is on loan from Genoa, but we told the lad that we hope he can stay beyond June. Riccardo Montolivo? We'll see in June.